VICKSBURG, Miss. – In a pair of hard-fought matches, the Alcorn State University women's tennis program topped Jackson State 4-2, but the men's program fell 4-1 Wednesday at Halls Ferry Park.
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In an intense doubles match, the Lady Braves (4-3 SWAC) won at court one with the duo of senior
Ammaarah Tim and freshman
Stefany Grlj 6-4, but dropped No. 2. Alcorn was in a hole at No. 3 where the team of senior
Klavdija Bukovec and junior
Veronika Pytlikova trailed 5-1. The Lady Braves saved two match points and proceeded to win six consecutive games to pull out a 7-5 victory and clinch doubles.
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Grlj won both her matches on the day as she made quick work of Oni Jones at No. 2 singles 6-3, 6-2. Another straight-set victory came at No. 3 singles where junior
Anastasia Vaganova took down Nina Zhang 6-4, 6-3.
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The clincher came at No. 4 singles where Tim battled back from a set down. She lost the first 6-3, but turned it around to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-2.
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On the men's side, junior
Stojan Stojanovski highlighted the day for the Braves (1-4 SWAC). He crushed Thomas Torres at No. 2 singles 6-2, 6-0. Stojanovski was also tied 3-3 in doubles with junior
Gjorgji Popovski when the Tigers clinched the point.
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Popovski nearly closed out his singles match at the No. 1 position, but the match ended with him ahead 4-2 in the third.
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"Both our men and women have come a long way and are playing better. We had a lot of strong individual efforts, but we're still looking to play our best as a team," said Alcorn head coach
Barbara Oliveira. "The men lost 4-1, but it was much closer as there were courts where we were ahead that didn't finish. It wasn't our best doubles performance, but if we're more focused it is attainable against good teams. On the women's side, I'm very proud of how we fought today. We're still not fully recovered from injuries, but we all supported each other and competed."
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Alcorn's match versus JSU was hosted by the City of Vicksburg. Mayor George Flaggs Jr. got the day started by hitting the first serve.
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Women's Tennis
Alcorn 4, Jackson State 2
Doubles Competition
1.
Stefany Grlj/
Ammaarah Tim (ALCW) def. Oni Jones/Lucia Placidi (JKSTW) 6-4
2. Lucia Solis/Lily Zhang (JKSTW) def.
Anastasia Vaganova/
Bianca Birkenstock (ALCW) 6-2
3.
Klavdija Bukovec/
Veronika Pytlikova (ALCW) def. Ariel Dickson/Nina Zhang (JKSTW) 7-5
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Singles Competition
1. Lucia Solis (JKSTW) def.
Bianca Birkenstock (ALCW) 6-2, 6-1
2.
Stefany Grlj (ALCW) def. Oni Jones (JKSTW) 6-3, 6-2
3.
Anastasia Vaganova (ALCW) def. Nina Zhang (JKSTW) 6-4, 6-3
4.
Ammaarah Tim (ALCW) def. Lucia Placidi (JKSTW) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Lily Zhang (JKSTW) def.
Klavdija Bukovec (ALCW) 6-4, 6-2
6.
Veronika Pytlikova (ALCW) vs. Maria Martinez (JKSTW) 5-7, 5-5, unfinished
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Men's Tennis
Jackson State 4, Alcorn 1
Doubles Competition
1. Andrey Alawi/Richy Gamo (JKSTM) def.
Johnatan Parat/
Ivan Matas (ALCM) 6-3
2.
Stojan Stojanovski/
Gjorgji Popovski (ALCM) vs. Thomas Torres/Fritz Jacobs (JKSTM) 3-3, unfinished
3. Lebelo Mosehle/Juan Soria (JKSTM) def.
Kareem Bowe/
Nuno Rocha (ALCM) 6-2
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Singles Competition
1.
Gjorgji Popovski (ALCM) vs. Andrey Alawi (JKSTM) 6-1, 1-6, 4-2, unfinished
2.
Stojan Stojanovski (ALCM) def. Thomas Torres (JKSTM) 6-2, 6-0
3.
Johnatan Parat (ALCM) vs. Fritz Jacobs (JKSTM) 6-1, 2-6, unfinished
4. Lebelo Mosehle (JKSTM) def.
Santiago Rocca (ALCM) 6-1, 6-2
5. Richy Gamo (JKSTM) def.
Ivan Matas (ALCM) 6-2, 6-2
6. Juan Soria (JKSTM) def.
Nuno Rocha (ALCM) 6-4, 6-0
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#FearTheBrave
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